Now you may not know the Komondor by name, but we can assure you that once you’ve actually seen and met a Komondor, you’ll never forget it for the rest of your life.
And that’s because…
These guys could very well be the most unique looking dog in the world! And by unique we mean awesome! But that doesn’t mean that you should just run out and immediately adopt a Komondor puppy, first you’ll want to learn a little bit more about these amazing creatures so that you can be sure that owning one will be a good “fit” for you.
This is why…
In this article, we’re going to hopefully shed some light on what it might be like to own a Komondor so that if you ever do get a chance to actually own one, you’ll know for sure if that would be a good idea or not.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Komondor Dog Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Hungary
Original Purpose: Sheep guardian
Breed Group: Working Dog, Herding Dog
Height: 25.5 to 27.5 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 80 to 100 pounds
Dog Breed Classification: Working group
Life Span: 10 to 12 years
Komondor History and Origin
The Komondor has been around in Hungary for a very long time. In fact, the earliest mention of this dog was made sometime in the 16th century. During this time, these dogs were used by the Magyars (Hungary’s earliest inhabitants) to protect the Magyar Sheep for wolves.
Now…
It doesn’t take all that much of an imagination to understand why these dogs would be good at this, after all, they really do look like sheep especially when you place one in the middle of a heard.
But what…
Their “looks” don’t immediately convey is how seriously they took their job. You see, in addition to looking a lot like sheep, the Komondor dog was and is ferociously protective of his folk. So much so that not only are the Komondor’s credited as being the best sheep watchdog in all of Hungary, their also credited with having rid the country of wolves all together!
Komondor’s in America
In 1933, the Komondor was introduced to America and quickly recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1937 which was very fortunate because this breed like many other domesticated dog breeds throughout Europe was nearly decimated as a result of War World II.
The good news is…
That enough Komondor’s survived the war and with help from foreign breeders, the Komondor dog breed was able to recover which is why we still have these guys around today.
Today…
This Hungarian dog is one of the top-150 dog breeds in the United States terms of popularity. And while he may still not be commonly available dog outside of Hungary, there are many dog owners within the United States allowing those determined enough to be able to get their hands on one.
Komondor Physical Characteristics
The Komondor is a large, imposing dog, with a big stature and powerful physique. And while it seems a bit silly stating the obvious, he has a corded white coat and his cords remind you of a sheep or as some in our offices will tell you a bleached blonde “Rastafarian”.
He’s also a…
Very heavy dog, weighing in between 80 and 120 pounds and rises to the height of 25 ½ inches for females and 27 1/2 inches for males. A size matched only by his large head and his large hanging, triangle shaped ears and dark brown eyes.
And…
He is distinctly noticeable because of his dense, soft, thick, woolly undercoat and curly or wavy course outer coat. His coat is almost always white, but it’s not pure white.
Temperament and Personality of a Komondor
Komondor puppies are very funny and playful, but the adult Komondor can be a serious dog. He is very dignified about the way he goes about things.
He is respectful…
And expects to be respected in turn. He doesn’t bark much, but when he does, he is difficult to ignore. He has a deep, powerful bark.
The Komondor is a very independent dog…
Always calm and composed, unless triggered for a very specific reason. He is ideally suited to life in rural areas, where there is plenty of space to move around. Life in the city, or living in small apartments isn’t his thing.
He loves his human family…
The Komondor is a very selfless dog. He loves his human family and sees them as his flock. He puts their interests ahead of his own, and remains loyal to his owner no matter what. He is wonderful with kids too.
The only thing is…
That he is not too comfortable in the company of strangers. He can be seen fidgeting around new people. This problem can be solved by training and socializing him from a very young age.
Komondor Health Problems
Komondor is a large dog and surprisingly healthy. But like all dog breeds, even this dog is vulnerable to certain health issues particularly those conditions that tend to affect larger dogs such as:
And while…
Many of these conditions may not be life threatening, they can certainly become quite expensive to deal with particularly if they become recurring issues.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.
